The Rise and Fall of GE Capital | 3min snip from We Study Billionaires

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TIP527: The Epic Collapse of GE w/ William Cohan

We Study Billionaires - The Investor’s Podcast Network

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CHAPTER

The Rise and Fall of GE Capital

This chapter discusses the history and complexities of GE Capital, showcasing its initial importance in driving earnings for General Electric. It also examines how the reliance on GE Capital ultimately transformed into a significant liability for the company.

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Episode notes

Trey talks to New York Times bestselling author William Cohan about GE's history, including founder Thomas Edison, Jack Welch's controversial career & successes, Warren Buffett's investment on GE, and much more!

William Cohan's latest book, titled "Power Failure: The Rise and Fall of an American Icon," chronicles the incredible history of General Electric, which was often the largest and most esteemed company in the world over its 130-year existence.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:

0:00 - Intro

07:31 - The origin story of GE, starting with founder Thomas Edison with backing from JP Morgan.

11:19 - Why Charlie Coffin might be the best CEO of all time.

23:54 - The dark side of Jack Welch and his career at GE, as well as the many successes.

56:37 - How Jeff could have saved the company by listening to Bill Gross and Jim Grant.

59:55 The debate on whether Jack handed his successor, Jeff Immelt, a “royal flush” or an open grenade.

63:49 - Warren Buffett’s bet on the company.

63:15 - Why the company has now been deconstructed into 3 separate entities.

67:18 - The many cycles that repeated over its 130 year history.

Disclaimer: Slight discrepancies in the timestamps may occur due to podcast platform differences.

BOOKS AND RESOURCES

Join the exclusive TIP Mastermind Community to engage in meaningful stock investing discussions with Stig, Clay, and the other community members.
Visit William Cohan website.
Check out Power Failure book.
Check out GE website.
Trey Lockerbie's Twitter.
William Cohan's Twitter.

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